Affirmative Action: Does It Do More Harm Than Good? - Think Atheist2015-03-04T00:24:13Zhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/forum/topics/affirmative-action-does-it-do-more-harm-than-good?xg_source=activity&id=1982180%3ATopic%3A1266671&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI believe that it's considere…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-03-07:1982180:Comment:12694122013-03-07T01:45:41.016ZSteveInCOhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/SteveInCO
<p>I believe that it's considered analogous to the example that a drop of sewage in a barrel of wine--turns the barrel into sewage.</p>
<p>Disgusting comparison, but I think that's what the racists are thinking.</p>
<p>I said what I did about the president being half white just to cause some cognitive dissonance somewhere if it is needed.</p>
<p>I believe that it's considered analogous to the example that a drop of sewage in a barrel of wine--turns the barrel into sewage.</p>
<p>Disgusting comparison, but I think that's what the racists are thinking.</p>
<p>I said what I did about the president being half white just to cause some cognitive dissonance somewhere if it is needed.</p> Half black and half white may…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-03-06:1982180:Comment:12691062013-03-06T18:26:25.378ZUnseenhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Unseen
<p>Half black and half white may be literally true, but for many in the U.S. and elsewhere the so-called "one drop rule" declares that any amount of black heritage—especially if it's visible and obvious—marks that person as black.</p>
<p>If you stop to think about it, if even a small amount of black makes a person black, that makes blackness a dominant and powerful characteristic. LOL</p>
<p>Half black and half white may be literally true, but for many in the U.S. and elsewhere the so-called "one drop rule" declares that any amount of black heritage—especially if it's visible and obvious—marks that person as black.</p>
<p>If you stop to think about it, if even a small amount of black makes a person black, that makes blackness a dominant and powerful characteristic. LOL</p> There are also the folks who…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-03-06:1982180:Comment:12688672013-03-06T14:37:39.490ZSteveInCOhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/SteveInCO
<p>There are also the folks who will reflexively claim that people who oppose Obama do so from racist motives, rather than perhaps disagreeing with what he wants to do.</p>
<p>Personally my reasons for opposing him have <em>nothing</em> to do with the fact that he is half white.</p>
<p>There are also the folks who will reflexively claim that people who oppose Obama do so from racist motives, rather than perhaps disagreeing with what he wants to do.</p>
<p>Personally my reasons for opposing him have <em>nothing</em> to do with the fact that he is half white.</p> As for "because he's white" o…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-03-06:1982180:Comment:12689652013-03-06T14:20:44.661ZTeri Ghttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/TeriG
<p><em>As for "because he's white" or "because I'm black" claims, black people do sometimes have to wonder whether being fired or failed might be due to their race, which is something whites almost never have to wonder about</em></p>
<p>I absolutely agree with you on this. I don't doubt that there is still a lot of problems with regards to these kinds of issues. However, when I was discussing the "it's because I'm black" statement here in South Africa, I was referring to it as a go to excuse.…</p>
<p><em>As for "because he's white" or "because I'm black" claims, black people do sometimes have to wonder whether being fired or failed might be due to their race, which is something whites almost never have to wonder about</em></p>
<p>I absolutely agree with you on this. I don't doubt that there is still a lot of problems with regards to these kinds of issues. However, when I was discussing the "it's because I'm black" statement here in South Africa, I was referring to it as a go to excuse. There are a lot of people here who have an attitude that the world owes them everything (which I understand, because apartheid did do a lot of damage) and they can do nothing wrong but what they don't understand is that the attitude is not getting them anywhere. As Jorita discussed earlier, SA is dropping the bar for blacks and coloureds, but when they fail to reach even that bar the excuse is almost always racism. Those that fail to reach the bar are often those that hold a grudge or the attitude that the world owes them.</p>
<p>I must say though, things are slowly improving, even if at a snails pace. Improvement is improvement!</p>
<p>PS. I didn't mean to be offensive or come across as racist in my previous post. I now see that I probably have. I was just trying to discuss the problems that I feel are a combination of both the apartheid damage and the one's that AA are causing. Even our government officials are starting to discuss the negative attitude a lot of people still hold.</p> In the U.S., slavery ended ab…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-03-06:1982180:Comment:12688662013-03-06T13:49:38.960ZUnseenhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Unseen
<p>In the U.S., slavery ended about 150 years ago, but racism has taken longer to die out. To some extent, it's fueled by stupid beliefs about blacks, but to some extent it's fueled by favoritism toward blacks, so yes it still exists.</p>
<p>And yet, how many of the strongest Western economies have a popularly elected black President or Prime Minister? Not the UK, not France, not Italy or Spain.</p>
<p>As for "because he's white" or "because I'm black" claims, black people do sometimes have to…</p>
<p>In the U.S., slavery ended about 150 years ago, but racism has taken longer to die out. To some extent, it's fueled by stupid beliefs about blacks, but to some extent it's fueled by favoritism toward blacks, so yes it still exists.</p>
<p>And yet, how many of the strongest Western economies have a popularly elected black President or Prime Minister? Not the UK, not France, not Italy or Spain.</p>
<p>As for "because he's white" or "because I'm black" claims, black people do sometimes have to wonder whether being fired or failed might be due to their race, which is something whites almost never have to wonder about.</p> I'm guessing this thread is g…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-03-06:1982180:Comment:12689612013-03-06T10:56:32.571ZGregg R Thomashttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/GreggRThomas
<p>I'm guessing this thread is gonna get out of hand in fairly quick order.</p>
<p>I would suggest everyone take a deep breath before continuing.</p>
<p>I'm guessing this thread is gonna get out of hand in fairly quick order.</p>
<p>I would suggest everyone take a deep breath before continuing.</p> I know that and I was debatin…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-03-06:1982180:Comment:12688562013-03-06T08:48:34.412ZTeri Ghttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/TeriG
<p>I know that and I was debating whether or not to use the term but, as Steven said, it establishes the direction in which the racism is going. It's useful here in South Africa because we only recently came out of our 'dark era' of apartheid (in 1994) and the hatred is ever fresh on both sides, although it is slowly improving. It's turned into a 'blame the white' with everything. If a black person is fired because they couldn't do the job, even after multiple warnings, it becomes 'It's because…</p>
<p>I know that and I was debating whether or not to use the term but, as Steven said, it establishes the direction in which the racism is going. It's useful here in South Africa because we only recently came out of our 'dark era' of apartheid (in 1994) and the hatred is ever fresh on both sides, although it is slowly improving. It's turned into a 'blame the white' with everything. If a black person is fired because they couldn't do the job, even after multiple warnings, it becomes 'It's because I'm black! You're a racist!' even though they are the ones harboring the hatred. So we have to pussy foot around it. </p> The goal or assignment was to…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-03-06:1982180:Comment:12688282013-03-06T01:22:04.468ZGeoffhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Geoff226
<p>The goal or assignment was to achieve diversity. In order to best serve the public, the workforce should be representative of that public. No one intended to hire undereducated people. Standards were reasonable and defensible and applied equitably. The fault, if there was one, was with the disparity in the school systems. Initially only a HS diploma was required. When that didn't screen out undereducated people, the standard was raised to 60 college credits or military service. That…</p>
<p>The goal or assignment was to achieve diversity. In order to best serve the public, the workforce should be representative of that public. No one intended to hire undereducated people. Standards were reasonable and defensible and applied equitably. The fault, if there was one, was with the disparity in the school systems. Initially only a HS diploma was required. When that didn't screen out undereducated people, the standard was raised to 60 college credits or military service. That worked much better. </p>
<p></p> You are technically correct,…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-03-06:1982180:Comment:12690232013-03-06T01:19:21.630ZSteveInCOhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/SteveInCO
<p>You are technically correct, but "reverse racism" is rhetorically useful because it makes it clear which direction the racism is running.</p>
<p>Of course some people will claim with a straight face that ONLY whites can possibly be racist (because it's only racism when the "privileged" folks engage in it), and referring to it as "reverse racism" is a way to get in their faces.</p>
<p>You are technically correct, but "reverse racism" is rhetorically useful because it makes it clear which direction the racism is running.</p>
<p>Of course some people will claim with a straight face that ONLY whites can possibly be racist (because it's only racism when the "privileged" folks engage in it), and referring to it as "reverse racism" is a way to get in their faces.</p> What is the point of hiring u…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-03-05:1982180:Comment:12689222013-03-05T23:14:20.192ZUnseenhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Unseen
<p>What is the point of hiring undereducated people? Especially when anyone who can put out the effort can, for example, get a GED or take remedial courses or get a college degree one course at a time? Clearly, people determined to put out the effort can improve themselves. Isn't that better than giving them duties they aren't as prepared for than other candidates for the same position?</p>
<p>What is the point of hiring undereducated people? Especially when anyone who can put out the effort can, for example, get a GED or take remedial courses or get a college degree one course at a time? Clearly, people determined to put out the effort can improve themselves. Isn't that better than giving them duties they aren't as prepared for than other candidates for the same position?</p>